Steam-engine lubricator



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' (No Model.)

W. H. CRAIG. STEAM ENGINE LUBRIGATOR.

No. 340,486. Patented Ap1u20, 1886 wimses:

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

V W. H. CRAIG.

STEAM ENGINE LUBRIGATOR.

No. 340,486. Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT EE cE.

WARREN HILLIARD CRAIG, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEAM-ENGINE LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,486, dated April 20, 1886.

Application filed January 11, 1986. Serial No. 188,261. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WARREN HILLIARD CRAIG, of Lawrence, in the county of Essex, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Engine Lubricators; and I do hereby declare the same to be described in the follow ing specification and represented in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a part vertical section of a lubricator having my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the shank of the lubricator separated from the oil-reservoir. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the column within the oil-reservoir, showing the oil and water conduits as I have arranged them in this particular construction. Fig. 5 is also a vertical section of a lubricator containing my invention. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same at right angles to Fig. 5. Fig. 6 also shows a section of alubricator containing my invention, the base of which is a section of that shown in Fig. 4, taken on a plane with the same and at right angles to the same part shown in Fig. 5.

To the lubricator shown in Figs. 4 and 5 I have affixed a sight-feed or observationchamber that is in common use, it being described in Letters Patent (to myself) No. 322,912. In Figs. 1 and 6 I have also shown a sight-feed chamber that is common to lubricators. I do not therefore confine myself to the use of any one particular construction of a sight-feed chamber in connection with my invention, as I am aware that any form of sight-feed now known to the arts may be used.

My invention consists in constructing a lubricator with steam and oil conduits in such a manner that the steam from the boiler to the condenser and oil from the oil-reservoir will not commingle as they pass through one common shank or stem at the bottom, the construction being such as to require no tubes or pipes below the condenser other than those formed in the metal of or cast within the oilreservoir and shank.

It also consists of a steam-conduit leading from the condenser from a point below the steam-inlet to said condenser into the oil-discharge conduit. Furthermore, by placing valves or screw-plugs in the steam and oil passages to open and close the same, I can regulatethe flow of steam to and from the condenser, and so maintain a uniform pressure within it when working under changeable conditions.

Another feature is the. location of a checkvalve in the steam-passage leading from the boiler through the oil reservoir, and extending nearly to the top ofcondenscr, its use being to prevent any discharge from the condenser into such passage or boiler. By forming circular grooves or segmental recesses in the shank I am enabled to separate the shank, as shown. To simplify the manufacture, and

also to make necessary connections with the steam and oil passages when the two are joined together for use, I sometimes make use of a washer to pack this joint and make proper connections between the oil and steam conduits. It may, however, be a groundjoint. By means of this peculiar construction and use of the glass tubes, together with the oilreservoir, the condenser, and the oil-passage passing through the oil-reservoir, Igain other advantages.

In the following description and drawings like letters denote like parts.

A is an oil-reservoir of cylindrical form, and provided with a filling-mouth and plug, D. It has at the bottom a drain-mouth, F, for draining purposes, and is provided with a screw-plug, E, with which to open and close it. Through the oil-reservoir is cast a column, H, in which is formed a steam-passage, C, to convey steam from the boiler to the condenser B. There is also provided for such passage at the bottom a screw plug or valve, G, to admit or to shut off steam from the lubricator. There is also a check-valve, I, at the end of such passage and opening into the condenser, its use being to preventanything from the condenser passing into such passage or into the boiler.

Opening out of the condenser B. and passing through the column H, are oil-discharge passages J and J, such passages having either direct communication with the oil-reservoir,g

as shown in Fig. 5, or indirect, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. Through these passages steam from the condenser and oil from the reservoir may be discharged to the valve-chests of the made fast to the shaft by a right-and-left coupling, L. In Figs. 1 and 2 this shank is shown with a double oil-discharge or two oil-passages, while in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 only one such passage is used.

The object of the double oil-discharge is to feed from one cup at one and the same time both cylinders of any engine, as in the case of a locomotive.

The top of the shank K'in Figs. 1 and 2 is provided with segmental recesses M and M, and is so recessed as to form a connection with the passages J andJ.

In Figs. 4., 5, and 6 I groove the shank both above and below its joint with the cup, so that connection can be made with the passage J from the condenser and the oil-passageMwhen the two are not vertical or concentric with one another. In making this connection I have made use of a soft-metal perforated washer, N; but this is not material.

Shank K is threaded at its ends and O, for convenience of attaching the oil-pipes for conveying the oil to the valve-chests. It is also provided at O with similar conveniences to connect with the steam-boiler. Near the oil-discharge ends 0 and O are valves P and P, for the purpose of opening or closing these openings.

Fig. 3 shows a duct, Q, that opens out of the bottom of condenser B, and passes down the column H near the bottom of same, and opens into the oil-reservoir, and is shown in Figs. 1 and 6 by dotted lines E. This is to conduct water from the condenser to the oilreservoir to displace the oil.

Figs. 1 and 6 show brackets S and S, T and T, projecting from the outer walls of the reservoir. Brackets S and S are provided with passages U and U, having pipes V and V extending upward to the top of the oil-cup. Leading out of the passages U and U are vertical passages W and W, the lower exterior of which is contracted to form a drop-nipple. To these passages are screw-plugs X and X, to open and close such passages. The lower part of such passage projects into a glass tube or chamber, Yand Y, such tubes being secured in the brackets S and S and T and T. These brackets are provided with nuts Z and Z, that serve to pack and hold the glass in place.

There is within the oil-reservoir a bar, a and a, that connects the column H with its outer walls. Within the bar a and a are passages 12 and b,opening out of the passages J and J, and communicating, through the bracket T, with the glass sight-chamber Y. In the condenser B,I have shown pipes c and d, of separate metal from that of the oil-reservoir, as a matter of convenience in their manufacture. Pipe (1 is made shorter than pipe 0, the object being to carry off any surplus condensation through the oil-passages. In Fig. there isa passage, e, that opens out of passage J into the oil-reservoir, and has a screw-plug, f, to open and close its opening, as represented.

This oil-reservoir is provided with a glass pane, g, secured by a screw-nut, h, the construction being such that the water of condensation may be seen through such glass, as it may enter theoil-reservoir in the manner described in Letters Patent before mentioned.

The operation will be as follows: The oilreservoir being charged with oil through the mouth D-the valve G being drawn back from its seat-steam will pass from the boiler through the pipe 0, raising the check-valve I. It will enter the condenser and become condensed. The screw -plngs X and X being drawn from their seats, the water from the condenser will pass down the passage in column H, and on entering the oil-reservoir the oil will rise and pass out of pipes V and V, and be discharged in to the glass tubes from the passages W and W, these glasses being filled with steam from the condenser, so that the oil can be seen by an observer as it falls through such glasses and passes to the passages J and J. The valves P and Pbeing slightly opened, the oil will be discharged through the proper connections to the valve-chests of the engine.

In the .case as shown in Fig. 5 the oil will be discharged directly from the reservoir through passage 0 to passage J. I do not therefore limit myself to any particular construction to bring the oil to the passage J.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is' 1. In a sight-feed lubricator, the combination of the following: a condenser, a steampipe leading thereto, and a pipe leading from the condenser through the oil-reservoir to a shank or support below such reservoir, and having means of communicating with the top of the oil-reservoir, the construction being such below the oil-reservoir that the incoming steam and outgoing oil will not commingle, such separate passages being formed in the metal of such shank and oil-reservoir, substantially as shown or described.

2. The combination, with a lubricator having a condenser and oil-reservoirwith means of communication, of a column east through such reservoir, with steam and oil passages arranged therein, one for the discharge ofsteam to the condenser and one for the discharge of steam and oil, thelatter passage having a duct leading from such passage to the bottom of a sight-feed chamber, all being substantially as represented.

3. In alubricator of the character described, the shank K being formed therein, a steaminlet, 0, it being concentric with and connecting to a passage formed integral with the lubricator, for the conveyance of steam from the boiler to the condenser, such shank being recessed at its junction with the cup in such a manner as to communicate with the passageJ and the oil-discharge M,substantially as shown and described.

4. In a sight-feed lubricator having an oilreservoir and condenser, the combination of the passage 0, passage J and b, and sight-feed glass Y, passage W, valve X, and passage U, all being for the purpose set forth.

5. The shank K, provided with passages M and 0, its valvesGand P, in combination with the oil-reservoir A, its passages O and J, and condenser 13, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with an oil-reservoir having a column, H, cast therein, and a passage, O, to lead steam to the condenser, of the passages J and J, to lead such steam .from the condenser to the oil-discharge passages M and H, such passages having means of communication with the sight-feed chambers and oilreservoir, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination,with a lubricator having a condenser and observation-chamber and oilreservoir, of the passage 0, passing through such reservoir, this passage having a checkvalve, I, and also having a pipe leading out of the condenser, and communicating with the oil-reservoir and oil-discharge passages, substantially as set forth.

8. In a sight-feed lubricator, the combination of the shank K, having steam and oil passages passing through the same, and separate and distinct from one another, of a recess within such shank, into and out of which one of such passages opens, all being substantially as set forth. I

WARREN HILLTARD ORAIG.

Witnesses:

FRED P. FOGG, JOSEPH L. BONNEY. 

